Worked with members of the Strawberry Mansion High community to get information about a possible co-location of an outsourced program at the school

Disappearing Documents

On August 1, without any prior public notification, the District posted a new website. The previous site was taken down, and information about charter evaluations, individual schools and SRC history were nowhere to be found. Minutes and Resolutions from SRC meetings from 2001 to 2016 were gone. The entire page on Dr Hite’s prized System of Great Schools disappeared. We were unable to contact the Director and Assistant Director of the Communications Office as they were both on vacation the week the new website made its debut. We were able to speak off the record with some SRC staff members, but no one could give us a definite answer on when—or if—that information would be restored. First we were told October, then January 2018. Dr. Hite, in his first remarks on the subject at the August 17 SRC meeting, said that all information would be restored by “Spring 2018”. Is this the SRC’s idea of transparency and community engagement?

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The SRC loaded over 140 resolutions onto its June 15 Action Meeting agenda. Commissioner Green voted No on the new PFT contract at the June 20 SRC meeting because he deemed it “fiscally irresponsible”, but he did not raise that concern about any of the programs or contracts, many to private businesses, which totaled over $200 million in one sitting. Familiar corporate education vendors Mindset Works, back selling more “leadership kits” (A-82); Catapault Inc., possible recipient of a 5-year, $54 million contract for a controversial facility for special-needs students (B-8 ); along with Teach for America, Relay Graduate training, and Foundations, Inc and Jounce Partners (B23) continue feeding at the trough of education dollars. The District’s overdrive to outsource jobs and services races along with far too many resolutions to list here. As usual, the SRC provides scant information, leaving out descriptions altogether for many items, then vote the resolutions in blocks of twenty or thirty at the meeting’s end with no discussion or questions raised. APPS continues to point out that the SRC prioritizes charter operators at closed door meetings.

The district continues to funnel money to private law firms—this time another $8.5 million (Resolution A-71, which passed 4-1, Estelle Richman voting against). The SRC spent millions with these private law firms to fight the PFT after illegally cancelling that contract, appealing at every opportunity. The district has its own Office of General Counsel with twenty-one attorneys plus support staff. How many librarians, art teachers, and music teachers could that $8.5 million buy?

Solution for Special Needs Students—or Bonanza for Private Company?

Resolution IU-7 was posted just three days before the June 15 meeting, then was “withdrawn by staff” at the last minute. This original resolution proposed entering into a 3-year, $36 million with the for-profit Catapault Learning Company to create a segregated K to 12 school for special needs students due to open in September 2017 (with a possible extension to a 5-year, $54 million contract). Barely two months to find a location, hire staff, and have an operational school for 100 students in kindergarten through twelfth grades. This resolution came as a surprise to parents of special-needs children and the community; as a result, there has been tremendous pushback, including letters from the Public Interest Law Center and the Education Law Center on behalf of a coalition of advocacy organizations including APPS. IU-7 has a twisted tale of resurrection as Diane Payne documents in the June 15 Ears on the SRC. At the City Council meeting held earlier that same day Councilman Derek Green introduced a resolution for the SRC to reject I-U7. It passed unaminously.

Although he did not address the issues of the secrecy and hurriedness of his actions around IU-7, Dr. Hite’s explanation was that the district needed to find 100 placements for former Wordsworth Academy students. After the homicide of a student at Wordsworth last October, the District was pressured to terminate its contract. There have been persistent complaints of physical and sexual abuse of children placed at Wordsworth’s residential treatment center since it opened. However, the resolution also included space for special needs students who were not residents of Wordsworth. Rather than use the better part of a year planning how best to serve this vulnerable student population, the Hite administration is attempting to present a fait accompli to parents who should not be rushed into making this kind of decisions about their children’s futures.

Requiem for Closed Philly Schools Vigil

We have listened to Dr Hite repeatedly state that he wants to close three schools a year over the next five years. We attended the neighborhood meetings in 2012 to allow public comment. We heard the anguish of students, parents, teachers, and community members as they desperately tried to save their schools from closure. We sat through numerous SRC meetings and listened to similar groups plead for their schools to remain open. Having heard the heartbreak of school closures and witnessed the devastation wrought upon those neighborhoods, we decided it was time to honor the closed schools as well as draw attention to Dr. Hite’s intentions. APPS’ Requiem for Philly’s Closed Schools presented a beautiful yet mournful presence in the 29 tombstones created for each of the schools closed since 2011. We created three additional tombstones with a question mark as to who is next on the chopping block. Along with this video of the event there is an Action Sheet with ideas to help school communities organize.

Defenders of Public Education

There were over 50 speakers on the June 15 list; several people whose names did not appear were allowed, without explanation, to speak during the meeting. One man, who did sign up to speak in advance, was omitted from the list. He sat through hours of testimony, then approached district and SRC staff requesting that they correct their admitted mistake and allow him to speak. Two APPS members approached both District and SRC staff requesting that he be allowed to speak. He even rose after the last speaker to request his turn only to be refused by Chair Wilkerson. The SRC’s capricious speakers policy was on full display at this meeting as some people were added to the list and others excluded.

The Our Cities Our Schools organization has developed a timeline that shows why the present commissioners must vote soon in order to return local control of the district to the people of Philadelphia. Several OCOS members spoke on this issue.

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Fighting the Normalization of Turmoil

Every year, Dr Hite introduces his latest “turnaround” plan. Over the past four years, we’ve seen the Transformation Plan, the Renaissance Plan, the Redesign Plan, the Innovation Plan. This year: Priority Schools. And with that the instability resulting from forcing the transfer, without cause or due process, of most teachers and some principals.

In addition, Dr Hite has said, in SRC meetings and before City Council, that he intends to close three schools a year for at least the next five years.

Fifteen more schools to be shuttered, thousands of students relocated, relationships disrupted, and vacant buildings becoming eyesores in our neighborhoods—or sold to developers to turn into private housing/commercial spaces or handed over to charter school operators.

We must stop the dismantling of public education in Philadelphia.

To that end, we want to honor the 29 schools closed since 2011. These neighborhoods are still reeling from the loss of long-established neighborhood schools. It’s time to stand up for our neighborhood schools. Linked is our flyer for the Requiem for Philly Schools Vigilto be held before the June 15 SRC meeting. We are ask people to wear black as we mourn these losses. There will be a display of tombstones (one for each school) displayed in front of the administration building. We are asking people to tell their stories at the SRC meeting about losing their neighborhood school. Call 215 400 4180 by 3 on Wednesday, June 14, to sign up to speak.

Turns out that they meant 24 speakers from the community. A separate group of charter operators (no limit) was able to speak at the beginning of the meeting. The SRC also violated its own speakers policy by allowing one school, Laboratory Charter, to sign up for 14 of the 24 slots. Two of the five commissioners took pains to inform Laboratory Charter School supporters (recommended for non-renewal by the Charter School Office) of how they can get their charter renewed. Where was this support for Wister School parents faced with their school being turned over to Mastery Charter School last year?

New Idea for City Council

APPS members Lynda Rubin, Barbara Dowdall and Lisa Haver testified at City Council’s May 17 hearing on the school district’s budget. Lynda urged Council members to pay closer attention to the questionable spending priorities of the SRC. APPS members will be urging every member of Council’s Education Committee to send a staffer to observe and report on all SRC meetings.

District Losing More Qualified Teachers

One thing we can count on at every SRC meeting? Funds will flow into the pockets of consultants, corporate non-profits, faux teacher training programs, and various other vendors. Dr. Hite has announced his intent to recruit 1,000 new teachers. District teachers have been working for over 1,300 days without a new contract. Several have testified that they simply can no longer afford to work in the district and have been forced to leave for economic reasons. Dr. Hite’s highly promoted campaign to recruit teachers reflects this exiting from the district. Meanwhile, professional development that was done in-house is now being outsourced for millions, and the unaccredited Relay School continues to win contracts from the District.

Speaking Out Sometimes Gets Results

At the April 20 Budget Meeting APPS member Lisa Haver raised the issue of the public needing help understanding the district’s multi-page budget. CFO Uri Monson, after several conversations with Lisa, issued a “Budget 101” so that the layperson can understand where the money comes from and how it is spent. This multi-page, graphic tutorial is available on the district website.

The newest SRC Commissioner, Estelle Richman, attended this session sitting at the official table instead of watching from the audience.

APPS members continue to testify at all SRC meetings. We are joined by activist parents and community members who cannot remain silent during this assault on our public schools. See testimonies from May 18th and May 25th.

Where Oh Where are the May 25 SRC Resolutions?

For days the only thing to be found when looking for the resolutions was one word: PENDING. Two days before the meeting, only three budget items were posted. Wednesday morning (the day before the meeting) saw an additional seven items listed, including one to approve a revised application for Deep Roots Charter School. This application was denied at the February SRC special charter meeting, but not before the applicants were encouraged by commissioners to reapply. For the result, see APPS Ears on the SRC: May 25, 2017. You might ask yourself where this supportive advice is when neighborhood schools are slated to be “transformed” or shuttered.

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Spring is showering SRC meetings upon us: there are two meetings each month from March until June. We continue to inform supporters of public education in several ways: an overview of Resolutions to be voted on in our Eyes on the SRC, a report of these meetings in Ears on the SRC, video of testimonies from members and supporters, and a new section of Calendar Events. We appreciate any and all feedback on our writings. Please feel free to share additional information and resources or to ask questions. The next two SRC meetings for May are listed in the Calendar section. We are happy to advise those who want to testify but have never done so. We urge all who want to fight for public schools to attend and bring a sign if possible.

New SRC Policy Committee Meets—When Those Affected by Policies Cannot AttendIn March the SRC passed a resolution creating “ a policy committee that will review policies that affect students and staff”. They scheduled these meetings for 9 AM, when a when students, staff, and working parents are unable to attend. Thus, those who are responsible for implementing the policies, and those affected by them, are excluded. The first meeting of the SRC Policy Committee, Chaired by Commissioner McGinley and attended by SRC Chair Joyce Wilkerson and Superintendent-designee Naomi Wyatt, met on April 6 in a small conference room at 440. About 80% of those present were district staff. Four APPS members attended, along with Councilwoman Helen Gym and her chief of staff. Prior to this initial meeting over 75 pages of district policies were posted Friday afternoon March 31 for public perusal. Read the APPS Ears on this Meeting for a more detailed account. If the intent was to enable the public, in particular those directly affected by these policies, to have some input, then these meetings need to be scheduled at a more convenient time.